What Bugged You About Every Car You Ever Had?

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Captain Slow Charging
Joined
Nov 26, 2007
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Car(s)
Atomic toaster
No matter how good your car is to you, with a little thinking you can distill it down to two sentences, two polar opposites: one positive, one negative. There's always one major selling point that really gets to you, and the one major ? or minor ? flaw that absolutely gets to you when you drive it. Or put stuff into it. Or wash it.

As a means to cut the bullsh*t, this thread can be about the sh*t that you wished the manufacturer got right when it was new, or some fault that always rears its head when the car ages. In a nutshell, what made you get rid of the car you no longer have? And for balance's sake, please note the single best thing the car had/has.

1. 1990 Nissan Sunny Coup? B12

Alright, while it wasn't *mine*, it was the first car I treated as mine.

Best thing: That folded-paper coupe shape with the enormous rear glass and strong C-pillar.
Worst thing: That goddamn 3-spd auto that sucked the cars guts through a straw.

2. 1988 Nissan Bluebird

Best thing: That pig-iron CA20 engine which never used a drop of oil was good, but I really liked the gearchange.
Worst thing: It liked to rust from everywhere, but I mostly hated the vague steering at speed.

3. 1993 Mazda 323 HB

Best thing: Frugal and fault free.
Worst thing: Completely lacking in character and thrills. It is the embodiment of the Brezhnevian state of my studies during my 323 ownership: Nothing really moved anywhere in a rewarding fashion.

4. 1991 Mazda 323F

Best thing:
Those pop-up headlights really topped off the swoopy looks.
Worst thing: The all-compassing plastic crappiness that oozed from every pore in its interior was dire, but I never got the washer fluid light off that came on one day.

5. 1990 Mitsubishi Sapporo

Best thing: The blue velour.
Worst thing: It never really ran right. Cruise at 85km/h and it just hiccuped along.

6. 1995 BMW E34 518i

Best thing: RWD flickability when the ground is slippery.
Worst thing: The rear seat doesn't fold.

7. 1990 Peugeot 205 XS

Best thing: The throttle response.
Worst thing: Everything that is illuminated, flickers.

8. 1990 Saab 900S

Best thing: The doors shutting, when they close you inside that upright cockpit. Also turbo.
Worst thing: The ceiling droops.

9. 1986 Volkswagen Polo C

Best thing: Cheap spare parts.
Worst thing: I'll never really have a good stereo setup in it without making irreversible damage.


So, what's yours?
 
Fiat Coup?
Best thing: The looks
Worst thing: Something was always broken

Fiat Stilo
Best thing: Things work
Worst thing: No feel in anything
 
Peugeot 309XRD
Pro: Comfy, reliable engine
Con: Made from spit und kleenex & the engine was ONLY thing that was reliable about it.

Citroen Berlingo 1.9d
Pro: Very comfy, great aircon
Con: It was slower then erosion.

Fiat Doblo 1.3jtd
Pro: It felt fast after a 1.9d berlingo
Con: Everything else

Chevrolet Aveo (dont ask)
Pro: It revved to 6k rpm
Con: Nothing happened.

Fiat Fiorino 1.3jtd
Pro: Drove like a little kart, hellafun
Con: It didn't even have a radio.

Peugeot 307SW 1.4HDI
Pro: Comfy
Con: Horribly ugly & the slowest car i've ever been in.

Citroen Berling 1.6hdi new model.
Pro: Quiet, comfy & generally a very relaxing van.
Con: Absolutely none, it was perfect in every way (but a little slow).

Peugeot Partner 1.6hdi new model
Pro: It was kinda the same as the Berlingo
Con: But a bit worse

Volkswagen Transporter T5 TDI (the 5cyl on)
Pro: Good engine
Con: No room for the driver, loud

Volkswagen Golf Plus 1.6tdi.
Pro: Generic car, had no real faults.
Con: No place to put left arm.

Opel Vivaro CDTI 115 2900
Pro: Great engine, comfy, drove very well when loaded, 6 gears, super quiet on the highway
Con: Very long & quite annoying to park.

Volkswagen Caddy 1.6TDI Maxi
Pro: Smooth engine, comfy, very good milage.
Con: Rear bench is kinda uncomfortable, it is a bit slow.

(before anyone mocks me: all these cars were free, except for the 309. :p)
 
1. Nissan 200SX

Best thing: That turbo engine, which became quite insane after tuning. Awesome fun. Crazy adventures with this one.
Worst thing: Completely bankrupted me.

2. BMW 518i E28

Best thing: Such a cute little car with such a great personality. Ridiculously cheap.
Worst thing: I sold it.

3. Audi 100 C3

Best thing: Ahead of its time in wind resistance and comfort. A very personable car. Bought it because it made me smile.
Worst thing: Annoying electrical bugs, battery randomly empty, nasty knock in the rear door panel.

4. BMW 535i E34

Best thing: A total badass-car. Had that cruiser mentality, but also ready to rev that straight six at a whim.
Worst thing: Drank fuel like a beast, and was due for extensive chassis maintenance. Oh, and the rear door cards had come off, which annoyed public, who reminded me of it constantly. Which annoyed me.

5. MB 230E W124

Best thing: Such luxury. Insane build quality. This thing ate the miles. Nothing beats that MB-star at the bow of your hood.
Worst thing: Would NOT play ball. It was like that calm butler who would soothingly cease your efforts to make haste.
edit: Even an ill-fitting aftermarket suspension lowering kit wouldn't help. :lol:

6. Citro?n Xsara VTS

Best thing: That engine! A hoot to drive, surely.
Worst thing: That Citro?n badge. Everything was falling apart, most annoyingly the clutch pedal, which kept sticking in the most awkward places. And the interior plastics felt sickeningly cheap after the Mercedes. Which, I suppose, to certain Citro?n owners wouldn't be bad things. :whistle:

7. Audi A4 Quattro S-line B7

Best thing: Quattro. Can't beat a 4WD in the Finnish winter. The amount of grip on a Quattro ESP-system, even on non-studded tyres, is incredible.
Worst thing: Boring. Just frustratingly boring. The TDI wasn't powerful enough to make the quattro slide until the speeds were past the point of dangerously scary.

8. Mazda RX-8

Best thing: I smile like an idiot every time I drive it.
Worst thing: I still haven't completely fixed that suspension noise, and that wankel does take a lot of maintenance. Also the fuel bill is nasty.
 
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VW Polo 1.0
Best: Free.
Worst: Forty. Three. Horse. "Powers". Tectonics accelerated faster than that car, over 20s 0-100.

Ford Fiesta 1.3 Calypso
Best: Canvas sliding roof in a three door hatchback. Still miss it.
Worst: It wasn't powerful at 65hp, but what made it really bad was that the Valencia powerplant just gave up after 3500rpm.

Peugeot 306 1.4
Best: Peugeot handling
Worst: Electric problems plagued that car for 6 months until the starter motor gave the ghost. Having an engine that decides to lose all power in the middle of accelerating up the motorway is not fun.

Mitsubishi Carisma 1.6
Best: I only had it for 4 months.
Worst: Everything. Handled like a wet sponge, throttle pedal only affected the noise volume, not the engine output, psychedelic upholstery.

Mercedes 190E
Best: Fun. It may not be the thing most people think of when they see an 80s Merc, but the car was so much fun to drive.
Worst: The gearbox; it was a four-speed unit with ratios that just didn't make sense. A redline shift from 3rd to 4th would land you right outside the powerband somehow.

Mercedes C220 CDI
Best: Economy. When driven carefully, 5.2l/100km is attainable. Not bad for a large, 12 y-o Diesel saloon.
Worst: Boring. As fun as the 190E was, so lacking in that department is the grandson.

BMW 328i Touring Executive
Best: Dat engine :wub:
Worst: Battery is always empty after 2 days of not using it.
 
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2005 VW Fox 1.2
Best thing: Cheap learner's car with surprising amounts of space and resale value. Three-cylinder soundtrack :music:
Worst thing: No torque whatsoever. Zero toys as well, but back then I didn't miss them :dunno:

2010 Skoda Octavia 1.4 TSI
Best thing: Utter quietness, comfort, and reasonable low-end torque :burnrubber:
Worst thing: The plug for the rightmost rear aftermarket parking sensor cable is broken.

2011 VW Eos 2.0 TSI DSG
Best thing: Everything :D but if I have to choose: The nerdy roof.
Worst thing: Current prevailing weather conditions :lmao:
 
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1. Nissan 200SX

Worst thing: Ill-fitting facelift bumper.

2. BMW 518i E28

Worst thing: Missing rear bumper until one was sourced.

3. Audi 100 C3

Worst thing: Nasty knock in the rear door panel.

4. BMW 535i E34

Worst thing: The rear door cards were deformed.

5. MB 230E W124

Worst thing: I can't name anything. I need to consult somebody.

6. Citro?n Xsara VTS

Worst thing: I never drove it.

7. Audi A4 Quattro S-line B7

Worst thing: Cell phone mount scars.

8. Mazda RX-8

Worst thing: It has some damage to the rear seat cupholder.

There, I fixed it with my comments :p
 
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Hey, feel free to mirror mine. You've driven most of them...

Actually, it was this close that I named the fucking towbar as the worst offender on the Bluebird. It ruined 49,9% of the car. The steering had the commanding 50,1% stake.
 
1. 1984 Ford Escort, 3 door, 1.3 liter (German)

Best thing: First car. Not the Brazilian "LX" model.
Worst thing: Never ran right and consumed copious amounts of fuel. The whole car was made from spit and kleenex. Wobbling door frames at speeds exceeding 130km/h or so. Rusted like an Alfasud, at least for me since I lived on the sea shore. It was fairly rust free when I got it, but that escalated quickly.

2. 1990 Ford Sierra DOHC, sedan

Best thing: Always ran well, looked good (still does), correct amount of doors, sideways everywhere as soon as the forecast started mentioning snow. Great headlights.
Worst thing: Sideways even if you didn't want it to, to the point of being dangerous. Worthless traction in winter. Sedans aren't practical, even if the rear seat folds :p. Gearbox felt like stirring pool balls with a stick.

3. Volvo 850 GLT Estate

Best thing: Practical, spacious, tank-like. Engine noise. Excellent leather seats. Automatic gearbox. The Sierra above put me off manuals for life.
Worst thing: Fuel thirst/performance ratio was horrible. It supposedly had 170 hp. I never found them. Rough autobox. Lots of little annoying problems.

4. Volvo V70

Best thing: Everything the 850 was without the annoying problems. Tan leather interior. Great sound system. Power everything.
Worst thing: See above, minus the problems.

5. Volvo V70 Mk2 2.5T

Best thing: All Volvos should have turbos. Scratch that, all CARS should have turbos. At least all daily drivers. I'll add that so that MXM doesn't hit me over the head with a random Caterham part. :p
Worst thing: Fuel thirst. The seat was only suitable for people without legs... embarrassing in a car that size. Not nearly as well put together as the previous two.

6. Skoda Octavia 1.4 TSI DSG Estate

Best thing: Nimble, quick (not necessarily the same thing as fast), 7 speed DSG that just slots in gear after gear after gear, spacious (for the most part, see below) and frugal. And practical.
Worst thing: Road noise (Narf, WTF are you smoking?), lack of heat in winter, DSG isn't as good as a proper auto at stop/start traffic. It feels like a manual where someone else is trying to work the clutch for you. Which is what it is, really. Also, the cabin is narrow compared to the three previous cars listed. And the interior is pretty germanboring.
 
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1. 1980 Ford Granada 2.1 diesel
Best: Looks.
Worst: Everything else. That car was a rust heap and probably mistreated by every previous owner.

2. 1996 Opel Astra 1.6 16v
Best: It was free.
Worst: Boring car that despite lots of cleaning started to develop typical Opel rust.

3. 1989 BMW e30 Touring
Best: Handling, looks, engine...
Worst: Money pit, and the fact that i'm not able to drive it at the moment.
 
It's unfair to the car picking just one thing for each line, but here goes...

1992 Civic 1.5 (EG)

Best thing: Perfect apart from the next line.
Worst thing: I wanted a Porsche.

1986 Porsche 944

Best thing: Zero rust issues (galvanized body).
Worst thing: I bought a beater.

2005 VW Golf mk4 Variant 2.0

Best thing: Was really easy to sell.
Worst thing: Blue instruments.

1995 BMW E34 520i

Best thing: Don't have to use turn signals in BMW. ....right?
Worst thing: The steering linkage is made of marshmallow.

1970~2011 Caterham 7

Best thing: I can see my suspension working.
Worst thing: Fuelling up requires the precision of a Swiss clockmaker. Squeeze the trigger a micrometer too much, and the fuel rushes back out on your shoes.

1985 BMW E28 528i

Best thing: M30.
Worst thing: The doors never close on the first try.
 
1994 Daewoo Nexia

Best thing: Only car I've owned with all 4 electric windows (I wish I was joking)
Worst thing: Bouncy castle, properly dangerous ride.


1997 Mitsubishi Carisma

Best thing: Wasn't that bad looking and quite frugal for a petrol engine (could get it under 6l/100km)
Worst thing: As was already mentioned, completely lacking in any sort of personality


1996 Ford Mondeo

Best thing: Ridiculously cheap (paid ?750 for it)
Worst thing: With good reason. Even worse driving characteristics than the Carisma and the engine head blew 1000 kms into owning it.


1997 Audi A4

Best thing: Compared to everything I owned so far it was quiet, refined, well equipped and comfortable.
Worst thing: Had to replace suspension arms once a year.


2004 Audi A4

Best thing: The torque. Still puts a smile on my face after almost 3 years of ownership when I floor it.
Worst thing: Just about lowest spec. Of all the extras it only has cruise control, rear parking sensors and automatic AC.
 
Let me add the rental roulette too....

Citro?n C3 VTi 82
Best: Citro?n suspension, also known as "speedbump, where?"
Worst: The engine. the three pot lacked every kind of refinement, especially when going off the throttle pedal after medium acceleration, it would kick like a mule.

Peugeot 208 1.2 VTi
Best: Cockpit ergonomics. Every control was in a good spot. And the cruise control was excellent.
Worst: Same engine as C3.

Renault Clio TCe90
Best: Handling. The thing is a blast to hoon around corners
Worst: It could do with a bit more power. Also, some of the ergonomics are questionable.
 
1987 Chrysler LeBaron
Best: It had a car phone in the armrest...a real one with a cord attached.
Worst: The digital dashboard that only worked about half the time.

1990 Chevy Beretta

Best: The sunroof I guess (even that was terrible because it leaked like crazy).
Worst: So uncomfortable I couldn't stand to be in it longer than a half hour.

1997 Land Rover Discovery
Best: Silky smooth ride and it introduced me to off roading.
Worst: High seating position + low windshield frame = doing the 'Disco Duck' to see traffic lights.

2000 Suzuki Swift

Best: Nimble handling, like driving a little shoe.
Worst: Autobox. Why the hell are you in 3rd gear when I'm going 5mph??????

1996 MGF
Best: The handling and open-top fun.
Worst: Doing any sort of work on the engine was almost impossible.

2001 Alfa Romeo 156
Best: Sooooooo comfortable!
Worst: No cupholders.

2000 Volkswagen Golf GTI
Best: The sound the exhaust makes.
Worst: I can never get the seating position just right.

1977 Land Rover Series III
Best: Tough and bare-bones: nothing you don't need.
Worst: A "heater" that's there just for show.

EDIT: What the hell, I'll do my bikes too.

1980 Yamaha XJ650
Best: I could easily ride it all day.
Worst: Trying to get four carburetors to play nicely together.

1969 Honda CL50
Best: Just a fun little bike to ride.
Worst: Top speed of 45mph.

1995 Triumph Sprint 900
Best: It's a good all-rounder.
Worst: Huge bike is huge.
 
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Cars:

1985 Jeep CJ7
Best: Every drive was exciting
Worst: Probably the worst on road dynamics in history between the automatic locking diffs, squishy tires, loose steering, etc.

1997 Ford F150
Best: Completely dependable. I got it from my dad with 100k miles on it and put another 46k on it with nary a problem
Worst: Fuel economy. When you are talking 11mpg city no matter what, it should really be called fuel consumption, not economy.

2011 Ford F150
Best: Everything. Hauls bikes, conquers snow storms, eats miles and is really comfortable for all day drives.
Worst: SYNC occasionally won't play ball with my iPhone. Maybe 1 out of every 200 times I drive it if that often.

Motorcycles:

1984 Honda Interceptor 500
Best: V4 scream, there is no sound like it
Worst: Leaked oil like the Exxon Valdez

1993 Honda Nighthawk 750
Best: Simple drive-train, nothing on it to go wrong
Worst: Rear shocks were broken, and it was really ugly

1976 Honda GL1000
Best: Flat 4 wail, also nothing like it. At 7500 rpm it screams.
Worst: It's nearly 40 years old, and all of the random problems that come with that

1998 Triumph Tiger
Best: Looked like a 1980s Dakar racer
Worst: The ergonomics were for somebody that was 5'6" not 6'5" like I am

2012 Yamaha Super Tenere
Best: Conquers all roads anywhere
Worst: It's a bit heavy all loaded up

1985 Honda XR350R
Best: Good balance between weight, power and reliability
Worst: One year only model so parts can be a problem

1997 Honda XR650L
Best: Torque.
Worst: Top end power feels a bit strained with the stock carb and exhaust
 
2008 Toyota Yaris 1.0 T2

Best: I didn't feel obliged to care about it. I could drive with my foot to the floor and throw it in to corners with reckless abandon and get away with it, wash it with the brush at the car wash etc. I drove that thing hard and treat it awfully and it just took it, and then I got a really good trade in price 18,000 or so miles later!
Worst: It had no power, if it was the 1.3 I might have kept it for much longer...

2012 Vauxhall Corsa 1.4T Black Edition

Best: I like the way it looks, the Black Edition is a considerable improvment over the rest of the range and my model looks much better than the pre-facelift Corsa.
Worst: Value for money. It is depreciating at a hilarious rate, it isn't really that well built and tyres/wheel/parts are overly expensive for a economy hatchback.

1977 Triumph Dolomite 1300

Best: Driving feel. It really is very enjoyable to pilot, everything feels pretty connected and sharp for a 36 year old car. It really is perfect for bumbling along B-roads at 50-55mph on a summers afternoon.
Worst: The engine, the engine is toast. Buggered crankshaft, buggered valve guide seals, bodged together top end, it really is a shambles.

1976 Triumph Dolomite 1850HL

Best: The engine/gearing. It's great, all my other cars feel gutless in comparison. The Yaris and 1300 are just lacking in power and the Corsa is dependent on the turbo, the 1850 has enough proper displacement to generate actual usable torque and 90bhp in a car that weighs only 100kg more than a 1990s Nissan Micra...
Worst: The looks, It is hideous. surface rust popping up in random locations, dents on the roof, rusty chomework. The paint is dire, there is over-spray on chrome and trim and the lights, in some places it is cracking, the steel wheels are a mess, the hubcaps are awful, the front valance is made of paint and air and there is the massive dent in the rear wing and matching wonky bumper.
 
I'll just do the two I bought with my own money.

1994 Volvo 850
Best: Engine noise. It had almost 180k miles when I sold and was still running good. Never had a check engine light or any other electronic failure.
Worst: Automatic transmission made for a very uninvolved driving experience. Suspension was constantly having issues, which may have something to do with the previous owner's modifications and repair decisions. The car had no repair history at all.

1998 Volvo S70 T5
Best: Turbo. Manual. Always fun when you floor it in 2nd and 3rd. Every interior comfort available at the time. Very well preserved exterior and interior.
Worst: Turning circle. These cars never had good turning circles, but when you put them on 17 inch wheels and wider tires they become like trucks. Also, the fact that it's FWD. With this much power, it really would have been better to send it at least to all four wheels.
 
  • 1994 VW Passat Variant 1.8
    The good: Very spacious, long range, and it was considerably faster than it was given credit for.
    The bad: It liked to eat up its wheel bearings.
  • 2009 Ford Focus 2.0
    The good: The steering. [edit] The ability to scare IceBone :p [/edit]
    The bad: The radio's lack of simple features like an accurate clock. The fact that the temperature gauge is not a real gauge. And Ford forgot a decent reversing light.
 
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1997 Saab 900S 2.3
Best: Cruising ability. Super soft (but not wallowy) suspension and great engine (albeit not as fast as the turbo). Also first car.
Worst: Its condition. It was in a bit of a state, but it was cheap. I didn't own it long enough to experience anything going wrong but I honestly believe other than rust or whatever it wouldn't have gone wrong for another 100k miles with only basic servicing.

1999 Renault Kangoo 1.4
Best: Beater style - it gets serviced and (increasingly) occasionally repaired. Chuck it wherever you want; it even handles pretty damn good.
Worst: Speed is not its strong factor. Nor style.

2000 Saab 9-3 2.0T
Best: Capital T means TURBO. Holy shit this thing is quick.
Worst: Capital T means TWISTCHASSIS. Holy shit this thing isn't stiff.
 
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